Waterproof digital lap counter

Abstract

A waterproof digital lap counter automatically counting and indicating the number of laps traversed by a swimmer having the lap counter attached to a hand or foot comprises a LCD array including a digital counter, driver and LCD embedded within a sealed inner housing which is slidably and nonrotatably supported in an outer housing. Counting and indication of laps traversed occurs automatically and is triggered by abutment of the lap counter against the side of the swimming pool during the swimming stroke or flip turn of the swimmer. Abutment of the lap counter against the side of the pool momentarily closes a switch which sends an input signal to the LCD array representative of a lap traversed. The LCD array counts and provides a visible indication of the number of input signals received which corresponds to the total number of laps traversed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A waterproof lap counter comprising: a waterproof counter case of sufficiently small size to be contained within the palm of a hand of a swimmer or within the underside of a foot of a swimmer, said counter case housing all components necessary to count laps and including (i) an outer housing having an opening;   (ii) an inner housing slidably and nonrotatably mounted within the opening of said outer housing;   (iii) means for biasing said inner housing outwardly from said outer housing;   (iv) a numeric display;   (v) pressure actuated means for providing an input signal indicative of a lap count including a count switch having a plurality of spaced contacts attached to said inner housing and a contact member attached to said outer housing, said plurality of spaced contacts being spaced apart from said contact member by said biasing means to define an open position of said count switch, said inner housing being operable to move inwardly relative to said outer housing to define a closed position of said count switch in which said spaced contacts abut said contact member to produce said input signal upon abutment of said inner housing against a wall of a swimming pool during the normal stroke of a swimmer having the waterproof lap counter attached to an extremity;   (vi) means for incrementally counting receiving said input signal and providing an output signal operable to increment said number display; and   (vii) a power source providing power to said numeric display and said incrementally counting means; and     means for attaching said waterproof counter case to an extremity of a swimmer whereby operation of said pressure actuated means automatically increments said numeric display thereby indicating the total number of laps traversed.   
     
     
       2. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 1 wherein said numeric display comprises a LCD and said incrementally counting means comprises a digital counter. 
     
     
       3. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 2 wherein said inner housing includes a sealed cavity housing an integral counter module comprising a battery defining said power source, a printed circuit board, and a LCD array comprising said LCD and said digital counter. 
     
     
       4. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 3 wherein said biasing means comprises a coil spring having one end located in an annular recess in said inner housing and another end located in an annular guide groove in a base plate forming the bottom of said outer housing. 
     
     
       5. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 4 wherein said inner housing is formed with a radially extending projection slidably received within a recess in said outer housing. 
     
     
       6. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 3 wherein said inner housing includes a transparent window through which the LCD is visible. 
     
     
       7. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprises at least one resilient strap secured to the hand of a swimmer. 
     
     
       8. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprises at least one resilient strap secured to the foot of a swimmer. 
     
     
       9. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 3 further including a single on/off-reset switch selectively operable to connect the battery to the LCD array and reset the LCD. 
     
     
       10. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 9 wherein said on/off-reset switch comprises a magnetic-sensitive device and a permanent magnet. 
     
     
       11. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 10 wherein said on/off-reset switch has an ON position in which said switch is closed and an OFF position in which said switch is open, said ON position being defined by juxtaposition of said magnetic-sensitive device and permanent magnet. 
     
     
       12. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 11 wherein said magnetic-sensitive device comprises a reed switch embedded in said inner housing and said permanent magnet is disposed in a bezel rotatably supported on said outer housing, said ON and OFF positions of the on/off-reset switch being defined by rotation of the bezel relative to the inner housing. 
     
     
       13. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 10 wherein said on/off-reset switch comprises a semiconductor device operable to close said on/off-reset switch when juxtaposed to said permanent magnet. 
     
     
       14. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 3 wherein said LCD array further includes a programmable microcontroller having a timer, with said microcontroller being selectively programmable via momentary switches such that said LCD displays either the total number of laps, the total time taken to swim the total number of laps or the time taken to swim a predetermined number of laps. 
     
     
       15. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 1 wherein said numeric display comprises a LED and said incrementally counting means comprises a digital counter, 
     
     
       16. A waterproof lap counter according to claim 15 wherein said LED array further includes a programmable microcontroller having a timer, with said microcontroller being selectively programmable via momentary switches such that said LED displays either the total number of laps, the total time taken to swim the total number of laps or the time taken to swim a predetermined number of laps.